Twenty Twitter Tips

The following post is in response to a friend’s question: How Do You Get People to Follow You on Twitter?

The short answer is: It’s called social media; engage others and provide something of value!

Here are Twenty Twitter Tips to help you get started:

1. Go to the Twitter Help page and read it;
2. Read a few of the blogs on ‘How to Find Followers’, but don’t buy a program to automate!
3. Fix your Bio (if it’s weak – or cliché); choose a great photo; state your location; and include a link to your website;
4. Send invitations to people already in your database;
5. If you haven’t already done so, download (free) TweetDeck or a similar application to manage your Tweets;
6. Use ‘Hash Tag’ (#) searches to find relevant Users (i.e. #environment, etc.);
7. Follow everyone you find interesting (there’s an initial limit of about 2,000);
8. Search the ‘followers’ or ‘following’ lists of others you find interesting, and follow them;
9. ‘Retweet’ (RT) interesting and relevant Tweets;
10. ‘Mention’ (@) your Followers liberally; respond to, or comment on, their Tweets;
11. Keep your own Tweets laser-focused (but stay human);
12. Use Hash Tags to identify your tweets (if applicable);
13. Participate (Tweet) often (but don’t overdo it);
14. Use compelling titles for your blog posts and link to them in your Tweets;
15. You should be blogging in your area of expertise at least once a week (keep it to approximately 300 words);
16. Remember: Social Media introduces; Blogs educate; Websites/People sell;
17. Provide your Followers with value: Contribute, contribute, contribute!
18. Watch and emulate the Users you appreciate most;
19. Keep it fun. Don’t become obsessed. It’s not a contest – just let it happen;
20. Contact me if you’d like clarification on any of the points above.